Time Segment User Interface

ABSTRACT

A method operates a device that includes a display device, a user interface device, and a processor connected to the display device and the user interface device. The processor connected to the display device receives a user input defining a line on the display device; detects one or more direction changes in the received user input of the defined line; and defines a line segment according to the detected direction changes, where a length of the line segment is a distance between a start of the defined line and a first detected direction change. One or more processors segment a time period into multiple time segments, where each time segment corresponds in length to the defined line segment. The display device then displays the segmented time period on the defined line segment.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a method of operating a device comprising adisplay device, a user interface device and a processor, and to thedevice itself. In a preferred embodiment, the invention addressesproblems with specifying and segmenting a period of time using agraphical user interface (GUI).

Many modern computing devices have constraints on the available displayarea, for example smartphones and tablet computers have restrictions onthe size of the display area, since the computing device must be smallenough and light enough to be portable. This means that often the user'sinteraction with the GUI is far more complex and fiddly than is ideal. Atypical example of such a user task would be to generate a structuredmeeting schedule that specifies the meeting duration and thesegmentation of time corresponding to a desired agenda. Currentsolutions involve multiple UI components, such as multiple drop-downmenus, making them awkward and time consuming to use. They also produceresults that are visually poor and typically also require large amountsof screen real-estate making them unsuitable for modern devices such assmartphones and watches.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment of the present invention, a method operates a devicethat includes a display device, a user interface device, and a processorconnected to the display device and the user interface device. Theprocessor connected to the display device receives a user input defininga line on the display device; detects one or more direction changes inthe received user input of the defined line; and defines a line segmentaccording to the detected direction changes, where a length of the linesegment is a distance between a start of the defined line and a firstdetected direction change. One or more processors segment a time periodinto multiple time segments, where each time segment corresponds inlength to the defined line segment. The display device then displays thesegmented time period on the defined line segment.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a computer program productoperates a device that has a display device, a user interface device,and a processor connected to the display device and the user interfacedevice. The computer program product includes a computer readablestorage medium having program code embodied therewith. The computerreadable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, and theprogram code is readable and executable by a processor to perform amethod comprising: receiving a user input defining a line on the displaydevice; detecting one or more direction changes in the received userinput of the defined line; defining a line segment according to thedetected direction changes, where a length of the line segment is adistance between two successive detected direction changes; segmenting atime period into a plurality of time segments, where each time segmentcorresponds in length to the defined line segment; and displaying, onthe display device, the segmented time period on the defined linesegment.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a computer system includes: adisplay device; a user interface device; a processor; a computerreadable memory; a computer readable storage medium; first programinstructions to receive a user input defining a line on the displaydevice; second program instructions to detect one or more directionchanges in the received user input of the defined line; third programinstructions to define a plurality of line segments according to thedetected direction changes, wherein a length of at least one of the linesegments is a distance from a final detected direction change and an endof the defined line; fourth program instructions to segment a timeperiod into a plurality of time segments, where each time segmentcorresponds in length to a defined line segment; and fifth programinstructions to display, on the display device, the segmented timeperiod on the defined line segment. The first, second, third, fourth,and fifth program instructions are stored on said computer readablestorage medium for execution by said processor via said computerreadable memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a touchscreen device,

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal components of thetouchscreen device,

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a graphical user interface,

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second graphical user interface,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of operating the touchscreen device,and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of the method of operatingthe touchscreen device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

FIG. 1 shows a touchscreen device 10 which is a modern smartphone thathas wireless telephony capability but also has advanced display andprocessing functionality that mean that the device 10 has significantcapabilities as a computing device. Such devices 10 are becomingubiquitous amongst business professionals and are widely used forconventional business applications such as email and calendar functions.The device 10 comprises a display device 12, a user interface device 14and a processor 16 connected to the display device 12 and the userinterface device 14, this is shown schematically in FIG. 2. To the user,the display and input functionalities are combined in the touchscreen 12although from a technical point of view these are separate components.The processor 16 controls the operation of the device and executesinstructions from a computer program product, which can be provided froma computer readable medium such as a suitable storage medium.

High resolution images can be displayed by the touchscreen 12. The userinteracts with the touchscreen 12 using their finger and/or a stylus,depending on the touch technology being used to implement thetouchscreen 12. For example, the touchscreen 12 may display an icon 18,which the user can touch in order to launch an application that isidentified by the respective icon 18. This user interaction is the sameas a user would find on a conventional desktop computer where they woulduse a mouse, for example, to move a cursor onto an icon in order tolaunch the respective application, for example by double-clicking on amouse button.

Sophisticated gestures can be recognized by the touchscreen 12. The usercan swipe their finger(s) on the screen to achieve various differentinteractions with the application being currently accessed by the user.The user can make selections by touching the touchscreen 12 in order to“press” virtual buttons being displayed by the touchscreen 12. A virtualkeyboard can be displayed on the lower half of the touchscreen 12, whichthe user can then type on to provide alphanumeric input. Someinteractions are natural for the user, but often applications that arerepresenting functions that work well in a conventional desktopcomputing environment do not work very well on the confines of thesmartphone 10.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a graphical user interface 20 for part of acalendar application. The user will access the GUI 20 in order to createa meeting in the calendar. This Figure shows a preferred implementationof the GUI control, which includes a dial 22. The Figure depicts anexample input where the user wants to create and segment a one hourevent. The user begins by drawing their finger from the 12 o′clockposition to the 10 past positions whilst keeping the distance from thecenter of the dial the same to indicate one segment. The touchscreen 12identifies the gesture that is being made by the user.

The user then moves their finger towards the center of the dial 22 toindicate a new segment. The next segment is 20 minutes; the end of thesegment is indicated by drawing the finger towards the center again toindicate the start of the final segment. The final segment is finishedand the end time of the event is indicated by the user releasing theirfinger from the touchscreen 12. The dotted line 24 is the processedroute created by analyzing the user input and “snapping” the distancefrom the center to a set value. The line 26 shows the actual line drawnby the user, but this is converted to the line 24.

The number of total possible segments would depend on the device 10 andsize of dial 22. For example a smaller device such as a watch may have amaximum of five segments to ensure accurate interpretation of the userinput route. Alternately a new segment could be indicated by moving thefinger away from the center of the circle. A significant change inposition is all that is necessary. The dial 22 could represent anyperiod of time (here it is one hour, but this can be changed by theuser) and the user could continue their input past a complete rotation.For example a complete rotation could correspond to one hour, or one dayor any arbitrary duration.

The device 10 detects the line 26 drawn by the user with their finger onthe touchscreen 12 and converts this gesture into the on-screen line 24,interpreting the user's rough input 26 into a smooth line 24. This line24 can be drawn by the user in a single continuous gesture or could alsobe generated in several stages, depending upon the proficiency of theuser with the touchscreen technology of the device 10. The dial 22defaults to a set time such as one hour, but this can be changed by theuser before they start drawing the line 24, if it does not fit with themeeting length that they are attempting to define.

The user draws the line 24 to indicate the overall length of the meetingin terms of time and also to indicate segments in the meeting using thesame line 24, as it is drawn by the user. In the GUI 20 shown in FIG. 3,the user input comprises a curve forming at least part of a circle andeach direction change, which comprises a movement relative to the centerof the circle, is used to indicate the different segments within theoverall time period. In the example of FIG. 3, the user has drawn a line24 that has three distinct segments, the first being of 10 minutes, thesecond being of 20 minutes and the third being of 30 minutes, with anoverall time period of 60 minutes. The user can indicate a time periodof longer than 60 minutes in the same single action by continuing todraw past the start point of the line 24.

As the user draws the line 24, each time they introduce a directionchange (in the example of FIG. 3 towards or away from the center of thedial 22), then the processor 16 of the device 10 detects this change ofdirection and uses the detected direction change as the start and/or endof a time segment within the overall time period defined by the user.The processor 16 will match the direction change to the nearest suitabletime period, which might be five minute time periods, rather thangenerating a very specific but impractical length of time. For example,in FIG. 3, the first change of direction may in fact be at 8 minutes and23 seconds, but this is changed by the processor 16 to 10 minutes, asthe nearest five minute step.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second option for the GUI 20. In this embodiment,the user's line 24 is drawn as a straight line, rather than a curve. Thedetected direction changes identified by the processor 16 when the userdraws the line 24 comprise a movement substantially at right angles tothe straight line. Here the user is drawing a straight line with theirfinger and is moving their finger at right angles to indicate thepresence of the start and/or end of segments. Some devices 10 havedisplays that are far more elongate than square and these types ofdisplays will favour the drawing of a straight line rather than thedrawing of a curved line.

Once the user has completed the line 24, which can be detected by theuser removing their finger from the touchscreen 12 or by the selectionof an on-screen finish “button”, then the overall time and individualsegments will be presented to the user. The user then has the option tolabel the individual segments within the overall time that has beenassigned to the meeting by their original gesture. On a touchscreendevice 10 this can be achieved through the conventional on-screenkeyboard that can be utilized to enter alpha-numeric data. The GUI 20will accept the labelling data and attach it to the relevant segments ofthe meeting.

For example, in FIG. 4, the user has drawn a line 24 that is indicatinga meeting length of one hour. The line 24 has been drawn by the user todefine three separate segments, the first of which is 15 minutes inlength, the second of which is 40 minutes in length and the third ofwhich is 5 minutes in length. This has been indicated by tworight-angled direction changes, which define the start and end of thedifferent segments. The first segment can now be labelled by the user as“introduction”, the second segment can now be labelled “debate” and thethird segment can be labelled “summary”. In this way, the user can labelthe different segments of the meeting.

The method of operating the touchscreen device 10 is summarized in FIG.5. The method comprises the steps of, firstly step S5.1, which comprisesreceiving a user input defining a line 24. As discussed above, this line24 could be a curve or a straight line, for example. The next step inthe method comprises step S5.2, which comprises detecting one or moredirection changes in the received user input of the defined line 24. Asthe line 24 is being drawn by the user (in one or more gestures) thendirection changes in that line is detected by the processor 16 of thedevice 10.

The next step of the method is step S5.3, which comprises defining aplurality of line segments according to the detected direction changes,where the length of each line segment is relative to the length of thedefined line 24 between either the start of the line 24 and the firstdirection change, two successive direction changes or the finaldirection change and the end of the line 24. In this way, the processor16 assigns specific lengths to the individual parts of the line 24 thathave been indicated by the user by the direction changes that were madewhen the line 24 was created. Each direction change indicates the end ofone segment and the start of the next segment.

Step S5.4 comprises segmenting a time period into a plurality of timesegments, each time segment corresponding in length to a defined linesegment, and step S5.5 comprises displaying the segmented time period.The time period is defined from the overall length of the line 24 drawnby the user. Once the overall line 24 has been segmented into separatelengths by the processor 16, then the overall time period is split upinto corresponding segments. This is then displayed to the user, asdetailed above. This can allow the user to label the segments, forexample. Once the process is complete, then the user can use thesegmented (and labelled) meeting schedule by sending it to requestedattendees, for example, as is usual within calendar applications.

FIG. 6 shows a second flowchart of a more detailed specific embodimentof the methodology, using the GUI 20 of FIG. 3 on the touchscreen device10. At step S6.1, the user touches the touchscreen 12 to initiate theinteraction. At step S6.2, the user begins drawing a curve on the dial22. The processor 16, at step S6.3 averages the input from the user tocreate a smooth line, as can be seen in FIG. 3. At step S6.4, theprocessor 16 works out the distance(s) from the center of the dial 22and assigns segments to the different user-drawn subdivisions of theline 24.

At step S6.5, the user finishes drawing the curve by taking their fingeroff the touchscreen 12. At step S6.6, the processer 16 analyzes thetotal rotation that the user defined with their identified gesture. Atstep S6.7, the processor 16 assigns the duration of the individualsegments with a percentage of the total rotation. At step S6.8, theprocessor 16 provides a pop-up to allow the user to label all of thesegments that have been recognized in step S6.4. At step S6.9, the userlabels the segments at step S6.10, the processor 16 creates thenecessary events within the overall time period and displays this to theuser.

In this way, the user can use a single simple gesture to providemultiple different pieces of information to the processor 16. The userinteracts with the touchscreen 12 to create a single line 24 that alsocontains changes of direction within the line 24 that indicate wherebreaks will occur, thereby defining individual segments within theoverall time period. This is much simpler for a user, when compared tousing drop-down menus, on a small screen device such as a smartphone.The input method is not limited to use on a touchscreen device, althoughthis is where the main benefit will be found. A conventional desktopcomputing environment could also support the methodology, with the usermoving the mouse to move an on-screen cursor to define the curve orstraight line.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of operating a device comprising a display device, a userinterface device and a processor connected to the display device and theuser interface device, the method comprising the steps of receiving auser input defining a line, detecting one or more direction changes inthe received user input of the defined line, defining a plurality ofline segments according to the detected direction changes, the length ofeach line segment being relative to the length of the defined linebetween either the start of the defined line and the first detecteddirection change, two successive detected direction changes or the finaldetected direction change and the end of the defined line, segmenting atime period into a plurality of time segments, each time segmentcorresponding in length to a defined line segment, and displaying thesegmented time period.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device comprising a display device, a user interface device and aprocessor connected to the display device and the user interface device,the device arranged to receive a user input defining a line, detect oneor more direction changes in the received user input of the definedline, define a plurality of line segments according to the detecteddirection changes, the length of each line segment being relative to thelength of the defined line between either the start of the defined lineand the first detected direction change, two successive detecteddirection changes or the final detected direction change and the end ofthe defined line, segment a time period into a plurality of timesegments, each time segment corresponding in length to a defined linesegment, and display the segmented time period.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer program product on a computer readable medium for operating adevice comprising a display device, a user interface device and aprocessor connected to the display device and the user interface device,the product comprising instructions for receiving a user input defininga line, detecting one or more direction changes in the received userinput of the defined line, defining a plurality of line segmentsaccording to the detected direction changes, the length of each linesegment being relative to the length of the defined line between eitherthe start of the defined line and the first detected direction change,two successive detected direction changes or the final detecteddirection change and the end of the defined line, segmenting a timeperiod into a plurality of time segments, each time segmentcorresponding in length to a defined line segment, and displaying thesegmented time period.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a computer programcomprising computer program code stored on a computer-readable mediumto, when loaded into a computer system and executed thereon, cause saidcomputer system to perform all the steps of a method according to thefirst aspect.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide an improved GUImethodology that allows a user to input a time period which is segmentedin a single simple action. The length of the time period is determinedfrom the length of the line inputted by the user. In a preferredembodiment, the interface component is in the form of a dial/clock-likecontrol. This component allows a user to perform a single circularmovement to capture multiple pieces of information. The device willcapture both the rotation and the distance from the center and thentranslate that into data that can be subsequently applied to somethingsuch as a meeting agenda. On a touchscreen device such as a mobilephone, a user can draw (part of) a circle with their finger on thetouchscreen to indicate the length of a meeting (in terms of time) andcan also indicate segments within the meeting by moving their fingertowards the center of the circle as they draw a circular line.

The main advantages of the methodology are a single input that capturestotal time, required segments and the amount of time assigned to eachsegment. This saves time since fewer user actions are required whichsaves time and reduces complexity. The methodology saves space since ittakes up less display space making it ideal for mobile applications. Theallocation of time is easier to visualize when compared to drop-downdate/time selections since it allows the user to visualize the segmentedtime. The methodology is well suited to mobile devices and can be easilyimplemented on a small mobile device or watch. The data provided by theinput method is scalable data since all data recorded is based on apercentage of the total duration which means it can be scaled postcreation.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a device comprising adisplay device, a user interface device, and a processor connected tothe display device and the user interface device, the method comprising:receiving, by the processor connected to the display device, a userinput defining a line on the display device; detecting, by the processorconnected to the display device, one or more direction changes in thereceived user input of the defined line; defining, by the processorconnected to the display device, a line segment according to thedetected direction changes, wherein a length of the line segment is adistance between a start of the defined line and a first detecteddirection change; segmenting, by one or more processors, a time periodinto a plurality of time segments, wherein each time segment correspondsin length to the defined line segment; and displaying, on the displaydevice, the segmented time period on the defined line segment.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the line defined by the receiveduser input comprises a curve forming at least part of a circle, andwherein each detected direction change comprises a movement relative toa center of the circle.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein theline defined by the received user input comprises a straight line, andwherein each detected direction change comprises a movementsubstantially at right angles to the straight line.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, and further comprising: displaying, on the displaydevice, a line derived from the received user input of the defined line.5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: prior toreceiving the user input defining the line, displaying, on the screendevice, an on-screen element on the display device as a guide to theusers input, wherein the on-screen element is an overlaid template thatis traced by a user to input a particular shape.
 6. A computer programproduct for operating a device comprising a display device, a userinterface device, and a processor connected to the display device andthe user interface device, the computer program product comprising acomputer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith,wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signalper se, and wherein the program code is readable and executable by aprocessor to perform a method comprising: receiving a user inputdefining a line on the display device; detecting one or more directionchanges in the received user input of the defined line; defining a linesegment according to the detected direction changes, wherein a length ofthe line segment is a distance between two successive detected directionchanges; segmenting a time period into a plurality of time segments,wherein each time segment corresponds in length to the defined linesegment; and displaying, on the display device, the segmented timeperiod on the defined line segment.
 7. The computer program product ofclaim 6, wherein the line defined by the received user input comprises acurve forming at least part of a circle, and wherein each detecteddirection change comprises a movement relative to a center of thecircle.
 8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the linedefined by the received user input comprises a straight line, andwherein each detected direction change comprises a movementsubstantially at right angles to the straight line.
 9. The computerprogram product of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:displaying a line derived from the received user input of the definedline.
 10. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the methodfurther comprises: prior to receiving the user input defining the line,displaying an on-screen element on the display device as a guide to theusers input, wherein the on-screen element is an overlaid template thatis traced by a user to input a particular shape.
 11. A computer systemcomprising: a display device; a user interface device; a processor; acomputer readable memory; a computer readable storage medium; firstprogram instructions to receive a user input defining a line on thedisplay device; second program instructions to detect one or moredirection changes in the received user input of the defined line; thirdprogram instructions to define a plurality of line segments according tothe detected direction changes, wherein a length of at least one of theline segments is a distance from a final detected direction change andan end of the defined line; fourth program instructions to segment atime period into a plurality of time segments, wherein each time segmentcorresponds in length to a defined line segment; and fifth programinstructions to display, on the display device, the segmented timeperiod on the defined line segment; and wherein said first, second,third, fourth, and fifth program instructions are stored on saidcomputer readable storage medium for execution by said processor viasaid computer readable memory.
 12. The computer system of claim 11,wherein the line defined by the received user input comprises a curveforming at least part of a circle, and wherein each detected directionchange comprises a movement relative to a center of the circle.
 13. Thecomputer system of claim 11, wherein the line defined by the receiveduser input comprises a straight line, and wherein each detecteddirection change comprises a movement substantially at right angles tothe straight line.
 14. The computer system of claim 11, furthercomprising: sixth program instructions to display a line derived fromthe received user input of the defined line, wherein said sixth programinstructions are stored on said computer readable storage medium forexecution by said processor via said computer readable memory.
 15. Thecomputer system of claim 11, further comprising: sixth programinstructions to, prior to receiving the user input defining the line,display an on-screen element on the display device as a guide to theusers input, wherein the on-screen element is an overlaid template thatis traced by a user to input a particular shape, and wherein said sixthprogram instructions are stored on said computer readable storage mediumfor execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.